Well pipe screwing device



Dec. .17, 1946.

F iled Sept. 19, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l fi larane Dec. 17, 1946. s, CRANEWELL PIPE SCREWING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1944 CranePatented Dec. 17, 1946 ,5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 2,412,875

WELL PIPE SCREWING DEVICE Franklin S. Crane, Montrose, Calif.Application September 19, 1944, Serial No. 554,803 (01. 255-35) 2Claims.

This invention relates to well pipes and more particularly to a meansfor initially threading or screwing one pipe into another.

In the assembly of a well pipe the pipe sections are threaded or screwedone into another by elevating one section and While this section is in avertical position appropriate means is engaged with the lower portion ofthe pipe section so as to rotate the same. It is, therefore, an objectof this invention to provide a combined elevating collar and rotatingmeans for the pipe so that the pipe may be lifted by the elevator,lowered to engagement with the upper end of the preceding pipe, and atthis time the rotating means is set into operation by upward pull so asto thread or screw the elevated pipe into the preceding pipe.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pipe rotating means incombination with an elevating means, such as a sleeve or collar, whichwil1 automatically rotate the pipe when an upward pull is placed on thepipe.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved elevatingsleeve or collar which is ofsplit construction and which includessemicircular pipe rotating members which are spring urged to an upperoperative position, the collar and pipe rotating members having threadswhereby endwise movement of the collar will efiect rotary and endwisemovement of the pipe rotating members.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a device of thiskind an improved thread which will hold thesplit pipe rotating memberswithin the halves of the collar so that the pipe rotating members willnot drop out when the collar is opened.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved grippingmeans for gripping the pipe so that the latter may be held againstturning relative to the rotating members.

A further object of this invention is to provide a spring-pressed lockfor each pipe rotating member which is adapted to be manually moved tolocking position, the lock being held in locking position by the returnspring for the rotating members, each lock being spring-urged toreleased position so that when pipe is initially encircled by the collarupward pull on the collar will efiect release of the lock and when thepipe is lowered to its coupling position the collar may beflowered for adistance about equal to the length of the collar whereupon the returnsprings will move the rotating members upwardly to their operativeposition so that upon subsequent elevation of the, collar the pipe willbe rotated and threaded into the preceding pipe.

The invention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodimentsof the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variationsand modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention, as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail top plan of a combined elevating sleeve and wellpipe rotating device constructed accordin to an embodiment of thisinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the pipe rotating elements removed fromthe elevating sleeve orcollar.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially 0n the line 55 ofFigure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of the collar latching means.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modified form of thisinvention.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals l0 and II designate generally apair of complementary collar or elevating sleeve members which. are ofsemi-cylindrical configuration and are hingedly connected together byhinge means I3. The collar section I 0 is provided with an outwardlyextending arm 14, the collarsection ll being provided with an arm I5,these arms providing a means for receiving a clevis or the like forattachment to an elevating cable.

The collar section I0 is also provided with a handle l6 and collarsection I I is provided with a handle I! so that the two sections may beswung on the hinge [3 to either Open .or close these sections. A latchstructure, comprising a bolt l8 pivotally mounted on a pivot l9 carriedby collar section II, is adapted to engage between a. pair of keepers 20carried by collar section l0, and thelatch l8 includes a handle 2|,handle 2| with the keeper engaging member 22 being adapted to becountersunk in a recess 23 formed in the collar section l0. Collarsection II is also formed with a recess 24 within which the shank of thelatch is adapted to engage so that when the latch I8 is in lockedposition no portion thereof will project from either of the collarsections.

The collar sections l0 and I l are of like conan stand II has rotatablymounted therein a pa'irof pipe rotating members 28 and 29 which are of.

like configuration. The pipe rotating member 28 includes asemi-cylindrical body 30' which is formed on the outer side thereofwitha spiral rib or thread 3| having a dovetail configuration intransverse section for engagement in the female thread 21'. By providinga'dovetail thread construction the pipe rotating members 28' and 29 willnot drop out of the hollow members or sections when thesesections areswung outwardly to released position.

The well pipe 32 is adaptedto loosely engage within the pipe rotatingmembers 28 and 29 and the pipe 32, at its upper end, is formed with anenlarged coupling collar 33 which forms, at its lower end, a beveledshoulder 3'4; The body 30 of the rotating member 28, isformed with aninwardly offset semi-cylindrical lower part 35 and with a taperedintermediate part 36, the taper of which is similar tothe taper orshoulder 34 of the pipe 32. f

A semi-annular pipe gripping member 31, which is formed with innerserrations or teeth 38, is seated in a recess 39 formed in the taperedportion 33 of the body 30. The semi-cylindrical skirtor lowerextensiontfi has an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of thebody 25 so as to thereby form a space 40 within which a serpentinespring 4| is adapted. to engagathe upper end of the spring 4I- engagingagainst a shoulder 42 formed at the lower end of the body 30. The spring4! is preferably of, the flattype so that when this spring iscompressed: it will occupy a minimum of space. There aretwo of thesesprings, one for each section II] and II, and each spring issemi-circular in end elevation, as shown in Figure 3. The lower end of'the spring-4| engages between a semi-cylindrical collarorstop member 43which is carried by a lowerend. of the body 25, there being therebyformed a space 44 within which the lower end of the spring 4| looselyengages. The semi-cylindrical collar iii-forms, in addition to a guidefor the lower end of the body 25; a stop for the piperotating member 28"when the latter is-in its lowermost position.

The pipe rotating member 2B1is formed in the outer side thereof, with arecess or socket 45 within which the inner end of a locking pin 41 isadapted to engage, There are two of these pins 4-], one for each collarsection IE! and H, and the pin- 4'! isurged outwardly to a releasedposition by means of a-spring 48. A knob 49 is carried by the outerendof the pin 41, so that this pin may be manually pushed inwardly withinthe recess or socket 45 so as to thereby hold the pipe rotating member23 in its lowermost inoperative position. The plate 46 is secured to theouter side of the collar Ill and through which the pin 41 slidablyengages.

the use and operation of thi's-device -.t'heearms l 4 l4 and I5 willhave mounted thereon a clevis or other means secured to an elevatingcable for raising the pipe.

The collar sections In and II are opened by moving the latch l8 toreleased position, and the collar sections then positioned about thepipe 32 below the coupling member 33. After the device has been onceused the pipe rotating members 28 and 29 will normally be in theirlowermost inoperative position being held by the stop pins 41. Spring 4|is of such tension as to provide a shearing force which will retain thestop pin 4'? in its locked position against the tension of the spring48.

.When the collar has been encircled about the pipe the pipe may beinitially raised and positioned vertically over the upper end of apreceding pipe. The weight of the pipe 32 will compress the springs 4|slightly so that springs 48 will move the locking members 41 to theirreleased position. The collar sections may'then be lowered about thepipe 32 for a distance sub.- stantially equal to the lengths ofithesecollar sections thereby permitting the springs 4| to move thegripping members '29 and 30 upwardly to their uppermost operativeposition. This is the position shown in Figure 2. The assembled andlooked collar may then be raised upwardly bringing the gripping members31 into engagement with the lower end of the coupling member 33. Furtherupward movement of the collar will cause pipe rotating members 28' and29 in their gripped position torotate pipe 32. Aspipe 32 rotates thelower end thereof will be screwed or threaded into the upper end of apreceding pipe, it being understcod'that the pipe 32 is of verysubstantial weight so that elevating of the collar will not, at the sametime, elevate the pipe.

When the rotating members 28 and 29' are in their lowermost position thelocking pins 41- may be pushed inwardly and the pipe may be finallytightened or screwed into the lower or preceding pipe by well knownmeans. This latter operation will require only a iragmentaryturning ofthe pipe 32 whereas previously the pipe 32 has required completerotation for the length of the threadsin the coupling.

With this device the greater portion of the rotation is efiected withoutthe use of the :prior pipescrewing'or threading tools.

Referring now to Figure '7, there isldiscl'oseda modified form of. thisinvention adapted tor use with an internally. upset pipe. Pipe section32 is formed with an internally upset endportion 3-3? whi'chisinternally threaded as at 50 and-a tubular plug5l is-threaded into pipesection-32= Plug 5! is formed with an annular flange- 52 which is largerin diameter than the outer diameter' of. pipe section 32 so as toproject outwardly thereot. 1

A semi-cylindrical pipe rotating member 28 engages about the pipesection 32 and the upper T end ofrotating member 28* is formed with ashoulder 53 which underlies the outer portion of flange 52. Asemi-circular hardened member 54 which is formed with serrations 55in-the upper side thereof is countersunk in shoulder 53 and the.

serrations 55 are adapted to bite into'fla-nge when rotating member 28is raised to operative position. It will be understood that there aretwo rotating member-su of like construction andthe remaining details ofconstruction thereof are similar to rotating me'mbers 28 and 29, andthat the two rotating members 28 will be mounted in collar sections H)and H;

Iclaim:

1. A combined pipe elevating and screwing col lar comprising alengthwise split cylindrical member adapted to encircle a pipe, meanshingeclly coupling the split sections of said member together, femaledovetailed threads on the inside surface of each section, a pair ofsemi-cylindrical pipe rotating members Within said first member,exterior dovetailed threads carried by said pipe rotating membersadapted to engage said female threads, pipe gripping means carried bysaid pipe rotating members, a pair of semi-cylindrical springs seatedwithin the collar and forcing said pipe rotating members longitudinallytoward the upper end of said collar constantly maintaining said grippingmeans in pipe gripping position, and spring pressed locking means forlocking said pipe rotating members at the lower end of said firstmember.

2. A combined pipe elevating and screwing collar. comprising alengthwise split cylindrical member adapted to loosely encircle awell-pipe, a split pipe rotating element within said collar,semi-cylindrical spring means seated within the collar and forcing saidpipe rotating members longitudinally toward the upper end of said collarfor holding said rotating element in pipe gripping position, correlateddovetailed threads carried by said collar and said element for rotatingsaid element upon endwise movement of said collar, and spring pressedmeans for locking said pipe rotating element at the lower end of saidcollar and in register with the split sections of said collar, wherebysaid collar, said elements and said springs may be positioned or removedlengthwise of said well pipe.

FRANKLIN S. CRANE.

